Chapter 20 Other Messes
Chapter Twenty
Other Messes
~~Aria~~
The Icehawks won!!!!
Gardenia and I stay in our seats and wait for the crowd to disperse.
We soak up the victory and bask in the glow.
The boys won’t stop bouncing and yelling.
We shake our heads and laugh. I’m grateful she’s a friend and has forgiven me for the shit I wrote about the team.
I will not betray the trust she’s placed in me. That Aria doesn’t exist anymore.
I don’t have any good friends to confide in, and I’ve missed being close enough to another person to tell them my secrets. I’ll take our friendship slow and tread lightly. I don’t want to screw it up again.
Once the arena empties out, Gardenia and I exit to the concourse. She checks her text messages. “The Barlowes rented the Pizza Zone again tonight. Do you want to join us?”
Noah hears her and starts begging. “Please, Aunt Aria. Please. Please. Please.”
“I really shouldn’t.”
“Yes, you should.” Her tone leaves no room for argument. She’s not taking no for an answer.
“Please, Auntie. Please. Just for a little while?” Noah stares up at me with those pleading blue eyes I find hard to resist.
“Okay, for a short while.”
“Good. I’m heading over there now. Jake will meet us.”
“I’m right behind you.”
Minutes later, I’m seated next to Gardenia in an empty pizza place. The team, staff, and other family members haven’t arrived yet. The boys are playing the video game machines in the back of the large room.
Gardenia turns to me. “Any leads on jobs?”
“No. Not really.” My voice trembles, and I’m embarrassed by my show of emotion. I’m a strong woman. Always have been. Even as a child, I was independent and resourceful, and I will be again.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“It’s okay. I’m hopeful something will appear.”
“There is an opening coming up.”
“The one you mentioned that involved Carla?”
“We’ll get to that, but this is different. The Icehawks beat reporter just announced his retirement at the end of the season.”
“He’s retiring? But the Icehawks are only a couple years old.”
“Right. But he’s been a sports journalist for decades. The travel is getting to him, and he wants to spend more time with the grandkids. That’d be a good position for you.”
My laugh is hollow. “For me?”
“Yes, you.”
“The Icehawks hate me. Why would they hire me? Those last few articles I wrote aren’t enough for redemption.”
“I have a proposal that might be enough to change their minds.”
“This is the one that has something to do with Carla?”
“Not directly, but yes. You’re a reporter, and I need your help regarding my father’s death. Can you help me investigate?”
“I’m not an investigative reporter.”
“But you’re tenacious and driven. That works. Besides, if you want a job with the Icehawks, this might redeem you in their eyes.”
“But Carla’s handling that investigation for you.”
“She is, but she and Michella are buried with several other more urgent cases. They only took me on as a favor to Jakob. I suggested you could do some of the legwork and research for them. We’ll pay you. Jakob’s dedicated to finding out what happened to my dad as much as I am.”
“Are you sure Carla and Michella are okay with this? Michella doesn’t like me much.”
“I’ve convinced them to give you a chance. If this works out, they’ll keep using you.”
“I don’t know. I may not be able to discover anything.”
“I’m not expecting guaranteed results, but I know you’ll find something if it’s there to be found.”
She has more faith in me than I do in myself. I need that money. My unemployment and the pittance Noah gets from Social Security survivor’s benefits don’t come close to covering all my bills.
“Okay, I’ll do it.” It’s not like I have other offers, and I desperately need the money.
“Good. We’ll visit Gone Missing while the guys are in Colorado for the next game, and they’ll fill you in on everything they have so far.”
“Gardenia, you don’t have to help me, but I really appreciate it.”
“But I want to. Besides, I’m doing it for Noah and myself.” She studies me pointedly. Sometimes I’m not sure we’re friends. Other times I think we are.
“Thank you.” I’m immensely grateful but try not to gush.
Gardenia pats my arm. She’s genuinely a nice person. “Okay, maybe I’m also doing it for you, too.”
“It’s okay if you aren’t. I understand.”
“Aria, I like you. I’m not sure why, but I do.”
We share a laugh. After all, what else can we do? She’s being honest, and I appreciate her honesty.
“I like you, too.”
“I’ll arrange a meeting with Carla and Michella as soon as possible.”
The team starts trickling in, and we drop the subject. Soon, we’re surrounded by Icehawks and their significant others. I’m uncomfortable around most of these people. A few short weeks ago, I was the enemy. Judging by the hostile glares, I still am. Most of them avoid me, which I’m fine with.
Drakos is one of the last to show up. I’m guessing he’s been inundated with postgame interviews after being the high scorer and first star of the night. I attempt to keep my gaze away from him, but it continually strays in his direction.
When our eyes meet from across the room, the animosity I usually see isn’t reflected there. Instead, it’s something I can’t explain or even fathom. There’s lust there, but that’s understandable. We had a good time together, and he wants more just as I do.
The arrogant ass winks at me, which raises my ire. I embrace it fully and glare back at him. He laughs before turning his back on me as if he thinks he’s in control. Well, sucker, you aren’t. I am.
As I watch, he weaves his way through the tables toward the back.
I hold my breath. He’s heading for the video games and Noah.
Jakob is already standing behind the three kids with his hands on both of his boys’ shoulders.
The boys chatter and include their dad in their excitement at the game.
Noah takes in the obvious show of affection between a father and his sons.
He looks away and pretends to play his game, but his shoulders slump and his head is down.
My heart squeezes for my nephew, and my anger toward Drakos is renewed.
I want to shake this man and rage at him for forcing Noah to grow up without a father figure in his life.
The object of my anger positions himself behind Noah.
He talks casually to Jakob as they watch the boys and make comments.
The kids giggle multiple times. Noah turns in his chair to gaze adoringly at Drakos, who smiles fondly down at him.
Fondly?
Doesn’t this asshole get it? Doesn’t he understand he’s Noah’s dad? Doesn’t he know the damage he’s done with his selfish actions?
The answer to every one of those questions is “no, he doesn’t.”
I’m unfairly livid at a man who has no clue what he’s done wrong.
Am I expecting him to figure it out and apologize?
I don’t want that because I don’t want him involved in Noah’s life.
Or do I? Drakos was young when he signed away his rights.
I wonder if he has regrets now that he’s older?
This distinct possibility is one of the reasons I live in fear that he’ll change his mind about being a father, find out who Noah is, and go after me for custody.
As far as I can tell, he hasn’t put two and two together regarding Anna and me being sisters. If he ever does—
Drakos reaches out and puts both hands on Noah’s shoulders as he leans in to watch him play Earth Invaders or whatever that game is called. I’m not a gamer, so I don’t really know.
My anxiety turns to fury. This guy is playing the concerned dad role when he gave up all rights. Who the fuck does he think he is?
When Drakos finally wanders off, Noah watches him go with longing in his eyes.
I wonder if he perceives that Drakos is different.
Maybe he suspects there’s more than he knows.
But he can’t. I’m being paranoid once again.
Keeping this secret is killing me. Would Noah ever forgive me if he finds out?
And will I be able to keep this secret from him forever, especially considering he can get a DNA test when he’s older and discover a lot from the results?
Drakos walks down the hallway toward the bathrooms. I turn to Gardenia. “I’ll be right back. Bathroom break.” I want to talk to him.
She nods and continues her conversation with Michella and Avery.
I hurry away and slip down the hall. I lean up against the wall and wait. A few minutes later Drakos exits the men’s room. He balks when he sees me.
“Hey, Aria.” After recovering from the shock of seeing me, a slow, sexy smile crosses his all-too-handsome face.
“Leave him alone.”
“What? Who?” He’s clearly puzzled.
“Noah, leave him alone.”
“Really? Are you that selfish? He doesn’t want me to leave him alone. I like him, and he needs a male figure in his life.”
“He might, but he doesn’t need that person to be you.”
“What harm can I do? What’re you so concerned about?” Drakos narrows his gaze as if seeing through my bluster to the underlying fear underneath. He may not understand the reasons for this fear, but he recognizes I deem him a threat.
“Irreparable harm.”
“How?”
“You’ll get bored and disappear. He’ll be devastated.”
“Then maybe you should do something to make sure I stay interested rather than discourage me.” His feral smirks stirs my libido awake.
He advances, and I back up until I hit the wall.
I gasp as his mouth comes down on mine, demanding and harsh at first before softening as he explores.
I put up my hands to push him away, but instead my fingers grip the fabric of his shirt, and I pull him closer.
I’m participating in this kiss as much as he is, and I’m powerless to stop him.
Not because he won’t stop but because I don’t want him to.
“Aunt Aria, what are you doing?” Noah’s voice sends me skittering away from Drakos. My nephew looks from Drakos to me and back again. He’s clearly confused yet hopeful. “Are you going to be my new uncle?”
“I, uh, I, Aria?” Drakos’s eyes grow as wide as saucers. Panicking, he turns to me to bail him out.
“No, he isn’t. Drakos was just saying hello.”
Jakob pushes forward. I hadn’t realized he’d witnessed our lapse in judgment, one of many.
“Looks like more than hello.” He chuckles and pushes his sons through the bathroom door.
Before following them, he pauses in the doorway.
“Watch out, Drake. I doubt you know what you’re getting into with her. ” Then he’s gone.
“What’s going on?” Noah stands with his hands on his hips and regards us with suspicion.
“Nothing. We need to get home. It’s past your bedtime. Now.” I grab his hand, ignore his protests, and pull him with me as I hurry out of the restaurant.
Noah is quiet for part of the trip home, but I know that won’t last, and it doesn’t.
“Do you like Drakos?” he asks.
“No.”
“Does he like you?”
“No.”
“Then why were you kissing him?”
“He was kissing me.”
Noah’s gaze is pure skepticism.
“It won’t happen again,” I add.
“It’s okay with me if it does.”
“Well, Noah, it won’t.” I lower my tone and smile in an attempt to soften the blow.
“I like him.”
I don’t know what to say. I’m not equipped to handle problems like this.
“He’s gonna help me with my slap shot and some other stuff.”
“You have coaches for that.”
“I don’t have any coaches like him. When I grow up, I want to be a pro hockey player.”
An unreasonable fear slithers through me that I’m losing Noah.
Drakos signed away his rights. I need to find that paperwork in case he figures shit out and has regrets.
Since I’m possibly launching a career as an investigative journalist, I’ll hone my skills by dredging up my sister’s old secrets and securing a copy of the necessary documents regarding Noah.
Next stop, the storage unit. I’m afraid of what I’ll find there, but I have to uncover the truth.
What was my sister doing in Vegas if she wasn’t working at the university?
Why did she fraudulently use my name on a credit card?
And what other secrets was she keeping? Regardless, she was still my sister, and I loved her.
I wish she’d spoken to me about whatever mess she might’ve gotten herself into.
I owe it to Anna, Noah, and myself to ensure that Drakos doesn’t force his way back into his son’s life only to abandon him when he’s no longer convenient. My attraction to that man adds an extra layer of difficulty, but Noah has to be first and foremost.